Dear Compass Checkers,

You’re at a “crossroads”—a point at which a critical decision must be made that will have far-reaching consequences. What will you do? You can’t avoid it or go around it. You can ignore it, but you’ll eventually have to face it.

My crossroads came while attending a college homecoming football game. It was a beautiful fall day and I was watching the game with some college friends. But I was not happy. In fact, I was tormented about being there. Why? It was on God’s Sabbath day—Saturday afternoon—and I knew I was violating the Sabbath.

Directly in front of me I had a life-changing choice to make: Was I going to heed what I was reading in the Bible about the Sabbath and about God’s way of life, or was I going to ignore it and take the path of “doing my own thing”?

I abruptly told my friends, “I’m going back to the dorm.” They stared at me and one of them asked why. I said something like, “I just want to.” So I exited the football stadium and went back to my dorm. It was lonely there since everyone was at the game. But it was definitely the right choice. Now I could observe the Sabbath properly and have peace with myself.

As far as I knew there were no other students at college who observed the Sabbath, so my Sabbaths were lonely, but this allowed me to have a lot of one-on-one time with God. I went to the library to study the Bible and church booklets so I could get away from the noise in my dorm. Eventually I asked for a minister to visit me at college, and I began to attend Sabbath services (in Spokane, Washington). I was baptized the next year after turning 19.

Have you ever been at a crossroads in your life? Yes, these big decisions face all of us.

Successfully Facing Crossroads

Here are three biblical ways of successfully dealing with big or small decisions.

• Take the “good way”

Notice this verse in the book of Jeremiah, which refers to “ancient paths”: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’ But you said, ‘We will not walk in it’” (Jeremiah 6:16, New International Version).

“Ancient paths” refer to God’s righteous way of God—the “good way”—which are found in the Ten Commandments and the other laws of God in the Bible. God introduced His laws—His “ancient paths”—originally to Adam and Eve. He has preserved His way of life in the Bible for us to follow in our daily lives.

• Light your path

Notice in Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

The “word” is the Holy Bible. Read it, learn from it and follow it. God gives a treasure trove of practical ways of dealing with life in the pages of His Bible.

• Seek God’s will

This follow-up principle is from Proverbs 16:3: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (NIV). When we sincerely ask God in believing prayer for His will to be done, and we are taking the “good way” of life in following Him, God will make His will known to us.

In Proverbs 16:9 we read: “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” We have our own will to contend with (“his heart”), but ultimately we need to let God determine our steps.

God knows us all so well. Notice in Psalm 139:3: “You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.” Now verses 5-6: “You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (NIV).

When we come to a crossroads in life (and they come up frequently), realize that God knows your deepest concerns, and as you turn your will over to Him, He will guide you to the right path. The loving God has truly laid His hand upon us!

Enjoy this pre-Feast issue of Compass Check magazine, and I hope you have a very profitable Feast of Tabernacles.

Until next time, your camp friend,

Steve Nutzman, Compass Check editor | compasscheck@ucg.org